Secret Show at the Link Centre in Tupelo on March 4, 2017 was great fun

Wonderful art things are happening in Tupelo, Mississippi with numerous outlets for visual, musical, and other art forms. With the Gumtree Museum of Art being a focal point, art seems to be radiating outward. Even the downtown restaurants are a part of this artistic revival with places like Kermit's Outlaw Kitchen serving incredible meals featuring local produce and meats, the Thirsty Devil bar with the wall decorated with artwork purchased from local artists, to Vanelli's Italian restaurant with trippy primitive artwork done by Paul Thorn, internationally known singer songwriter from Tupelo. 

Joseph MacGown doing an abstract version of the scene

Belle Naugher, Gumtree Museum Director

Painting one of the masked figures

More recently, the Link Centre, located at 1800 W Main Street in Tupelo, has mushroomed into a great facility devoted to providing artistic opportunities for all types of people in the community. Saturday night was a great example of bringing people together for a night of arts. Mary Art Contrary (does anyone really know her real name??) put together a "Secret Show" that started at 7:51 PM on Saturday, March 4. The "Secret Show" featured a wonderful band (name unknown, apparently the night was about secrets), four models wearing costumes and imaginative masks created by one of the artists who posed for artists who wanted to draw or paint them, numerous artists who came to paint the models or just paint and draw in general, a few artists selling prints and/or originals, some writers who read their poetry, and a cash bar.

models! 

Luisa and Ella! Thanks for coming with us and drawing along

The entire scene was an underground type of venue with hardcore biker looking jokers poised in front of their easels sketching and painting while listening to hard riffs from guitarist/singer John West and his crew.

Artists working

Ben and Justin painting side by side

Ben Frazier

Justin King

In addition to painting, Joseph and I had a good table full of prints. The folks there seemed to really love our art, and we ended up selling quite a few!

Me, wearing a shirt with my art. 

All in all, it was a very interesting night. We met some cool artists and art appreciators! I am overwhelmed with optimism for the arts after seeing the great things that are happening here regionally and elsewhere. Though federal and state funding for the arts appears to be headed in the wrong direction, artists are not letting this slow them down!! 

John West on guitar and his buds

Awesome painting!

One of the models looking at the art created

models

drawing away

checking out handmade masks

Joe MacGown Surreal Art Talk at Gumtree Museum of Art was fun

I gave a roundtable type presentation about my art at the Gumtree Museum of Art this past Saturday, March 4, 2017. Thanks to everyone who came to the talk, for your wonderful questions, and for purchasing prints and books from me! If you couldn't make it to the show, it will be up until March 24, 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Fridays (Saturdays by appointment).

Joe MacGown, talking about his art (Photo by Belle Naugher)

It was especially nice to see faculty and art students from the nearby Itawamba Community College, Mississippi State University,  and even a couple of Starkville High Students there!

art enthusiasts listening and asking questions (Photo by Belle Naugher)

Talking about art (Photo by Belle Naugher)

Thanks to Belle Naugher, Museum Director, and the museum volunteers and board for putting this event together. And thanks again to Chalet Arts of Starkville for their wonderful printing and framing!

Talking with Helen and Ed (Photo by Belle Naugher) 

Ella eating cookies and looking at my book! (Photo by Belle Naugher)

Surreal Visions of Joe MacGown Exhibition opening today (Jan. 25) at 5:30 PM

My one man show "Surreal Visions of Joe MacGown" open tonight at the  Gumtree Museum of Art located on Main Street in Tupelo, Mississippi. The opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00  PM tonight (January 25th).  Local Starkville duo "Two Parts Sugar" comprised of Caleb Hutson and Holley Rumbarger will perform their groovy music during the reception, wine and refreshments will be served, and about 30 trippy original pieces of my art will be on display for your viewing pleasure. 

 If you can't make the opening, the show will be up from January 25 through March 24. Gallery hours are 10 AM to 4 PM on Tuesdays through Fridays and on other days by appointment. 

Thanks to the Gumtree Museum of Art Director Belle Naugher for inviting me to show my art, thanks to the McCullough family and  Chalet Arts of Starkville for sponsoring the show, thanks to Two Parts Sugar for agreeing to perform during the reception, and thanks to my son Joseph MacGown for providing music for the video of my art (see video below). 

Art Expo Fun at Rick's Cafe Americain

This past Saturday night (14 January 2017) from about 8 PM to 11 PM, Joseph and I were at local hotspot and bar "Rick's Cafe Americain" in Starkville, MS selling some art! This was a very cool experiment for Starkville with an art sale at a bar, along with a DJ (DJ Glotron) playing grooves, girls dancing with lighted hula hoops and weird winglike fabric on stage, and live painting by several artists!

In addition to our MacGown Art table, there were several other local artists presenting their wares such as Joseph Garland (MSU student), Libby Cagle (abstract painter), Paul Buckley (abstract painter), Blaine Gerrard (wacky dude), Paisley Hamilton (handmade hippie fashions), and several others.

Overall, the event was a huge success with lots of folks showing up to see the art and talk to us about it. We sold quite a few prints, and I noticed several folks leaving with art from other artists too, so it looked like a successful evening for them as well.

MacGown Art at Ricks Art Bash, January 14, 2017, 8 pm

This Saturday, January 14, Me and Joseph and some other art jokers will be selling prints and stuff at Ricks starting at 8 PM. DJ Glotron will be slapping glowing sounds around as well. Live painting, likely some glowy hula-hoop girls, other artistic antics. Come on out and join in the fun.

Thanks to Ricks Cafe and Kori Baudoin for setting this event up and inviting us, and thanks to Mark Wood, owner of Chalet Arts, for his continued support!

"Subconscious Visions of Joe MacGown" at Gumtree Museum of Art, Tupelo, MS - 25 Jan- 24 March 2017

I will be having a one man show featuring both color and black and white pieces at Gumtree Museum of Art located on Main Street in Tupelo, Mississippi from January 25 through March 24. The opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 PM on Wednesday, January 25th.  Gallery hours are 10 AM to 4 PM on Tuesdays through Fridays. 

Caleb Hutson and Holly Rebecca Rumbarger are planning some live music during the opening. 

Thanks to the Gumtree Museum of Art and director Belle Naugher for the opportunity to show my art there, thanks to Mark Wood and Chalet Arts for their continued support, and to Tesheva for inspirational 
music.

Some samples of what I will have in the show (below).